The Rivermen returned home this weekend after they completed a season-long nine-game road trip on Friday night in Milwaukee. Peoria is now 11-12-1-1 through 25 games, good for third in the Midwest Division and seventh in the Western Conference.

Dec. 2 – L 5-1 at Milwaukee
After Derek Nesbitt scored the game’s first goal, the Rivermen failed to produce another in the road trip finale. Milwaukee countered with five unanswered goals, four of which came in the third period. Ben Bishop stopped 21 of 26 shots on goal in addition to a penalty shot halfway through the second period. The Rivermen finished the game 1-for-2 on the power play while they held the Admirals scoreless on two chances.

Dec. 3 – L 3-2 vs. Milwaukee | HIGHLIGHTS
Peoria overcame two one-goal deficits but failed to counter after Gabriel Bourque’s third period goal in their second straight loss to the Admirals. The Rivermen finished 2-for-4 on the man advantage and held Milwaukee to just one goal on five power plays. Jake Allen stopped 31 of 34 shots on goal.

Dec. 4 – W 5-2 vs. Rockford | HIGHLIGHTS
The Rivermen scored early and often en route to their first win of the weekend on Sunday evening. T.J. Hensick, Shaun Heshka, Adam Cracknell, Jonathan Cheechoo and Phil McRae each scored in the victory while Cade Fairchild and Brett Sterling each recorded two assists. Ben Bishop stopped 47 shots, one shy of his single game AHL career high, in his 10th win of the season. Peoria went scoreless on three power plays but managed to limit Rockford to 1-for-9 on the man advantage.

Rivermen Report

• Center T.J. Hensick dropped from first to third among league-leaders in points this week with 31 (8g, 23a). Hensick’s 23 assists rank second in the league.
• Second-year forward Phil McRae scored his 13th goal of the season on Sunday night which ties him with two others for second in goals scored. Nine of his goals have come in the last 12 games. His 13 goals has already surpassed his total from last season (12) which he accomplished in 46 AHL games.
• Rookie defenseman Cade Fairchild improved his league lead in plus-minus to +18 this weekend.
• Defenseman Danny Syvret grades third best in points (2g, 15a) among AHL defenseman after he added two more assists this weekend. His 15 assists are tied for second among defenseman.
• Jonathan Cheechoo posted a three-point weekend (2g, 1a), which improved his career point total to 502. Cheechoo has played 740 games since 2000 in which he has scored 259 goals and 243 assists. 501 of his games have come in the NHL in which he posted 170 goals and 135 assists.
• The Rivermen added three more power-play goals this weekend which improved their conversation rate to 20.7% on the year -- good for sixth best in the AHL.

Transactions

• Nov. 29 – Cade Fairchild (D) recalled from loan by St. Louis (NHL)
• Dec. 3 – Cade Fairchild (D) returned on loan from St. Louis (NHL)
• Dec. 3 – Brett Sterling (LW) returned on loan from St. Louis (NHL)

The Rivermen will practice in Peoria this week before leaving for Oklahoma City, San Antonio and Houston for a three games in three days stretch.

• Fri., Dec. 9 @ Oklahoma City – 7:00 p.m.
• Sat., Dec. 10 @ San Antonio – 7:00 p.m.
• Sun., Dec. 11 @ Houston – 5:05 p.m.